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National Beef Association Announce Merger

SCOTLAND - A merger between the Scottish Beef Cattle Association and the National Beef Association is hoped to benefit Beef farmers throughout Scotland.

This will take immediate effect following a progressive UK NBA Board meeting in Hexham on Tuesday, which was attended by Scottish mediator John Ross, and SBCA Chairman Scott Henderson.

The Scottish Beef Association was given the green light at the Hexham meeting by the new NBA Board who carefully considered the merger which has been built under the chairmanship of John Ross through 2012.

The SBCA Board approved the route at their November meeting, but 4th December saw final agreement reached on the central principles and a draft Heads of Terms was signed between respective chairmen Scott Henderson and Hamish McBean which will now allow a single representative body for beef farmers.

The forward-thinking NBA Board is building its national framework through a firm understanding that a bottom-up and country-based structure holds the key to optimal delivery for the industry. While operating together, it says, improves effectiveness at a UK level.

They believe this is the right development for Scottish beef farmers and members - who will retain the benefits of NBA - and the right thing for the Association nationally.

The SBCA Board has been equally forward-looking and for almost 12 months have worked towards this ‘treaty’ which will ultimately see their own demise and rechanneling of resources and expertise into the phoenix-like SBA.

Commenting on the outcome John Ross said “I am very pleased that finally the persistence and commitment shown by the steering group has achieved this satisfactory result and I thank them for their efforts.”

Hamish McBean remarked “Definite progress has been made and there now should be nothing standing in the way for this to work for everyone. We will put forward the best of NBA into SBA to deliver for Scottish farmers.”